Paper and paper making



Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,171,986 PAPER AND mm MAKING Paul Poetschke, Bronxville, N, E.

No Drawings Application August 13, 1937, erial No. 158,91a

3 Claims. (Cl. 131-36) This invention relates to paper and paper making, especially to cigarette paper and cigarettes, so as to provide an alkaline smoke upon combustion of the paper instead of the usual acid smoke.

5 The smoke produced by combustion of the ordinary cigarette paper is acid in reaction, although the smoke of tobacco is usually alkaline. When a cigarette is smoked an alkaline smoke is produced from the tobacco due to the presence 10 of natural nitrogenous products in the tobacco which combine with the pyroligneous or other acid produced, while the smoke produced upon combustion of the cigarette paper is acid in reaction because the paper contains almost no 16 nitrogeneous substances to break up and neutralize the acids produced. Thus a cigarette held in the mouth during smoking produces both alkaline and acid smoke. In smoking a cigarette even if enough nitrogenous substances are.

20 present to theoretically neutralize the acid, these vapors or smokes are not mixed sufliciently to neutralize the acid part of the smoke especially while the cigarette is held in the mouth during intervals of pufling. During those intervals be- 25 tween inhalation of smoke, the acid vapor from the burning paper reaches the eyes and causes lachrymosis with a burning sensation familiar to those who get cigarette smoke in their eyes.

These acid vapors, depending upon the variable so conditions of combustion encountered in ordinary smoking, also irritate the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Acid vapors are equally irritating when produced by smoking cigarettes containing a tobacco substitute, such 35 as cubebs.

Various attempts have been made to add aromatic substances to cigarette paper in order to ameliorate the irritating effects of cigarette smoke, but such substances have not had the desired effect because they failed to neutralize the acid vapors produced. in combustion of the paper and were otherwise objectionable because of. their interference with the tobacco smoke flavor, or their undesirable eflects upon the burning quali- 45 ties, color, or physical properties of the paper.

It has been found that papers, such as commercial cigarette paper, may be conveniently treated with substances of nitrogeneous nature to produce a paper which yields an alkaline 50 smoke upon combustion. It is possible to accomplish this treatment by running the formed paper web through a solution of the substance or substances just before a final calendering. It is usually necessary that such nitrogeneous sub- 55 stances should not yield an odoriferous smoke which affects the flavor of tobacco smoke; and they should not adversely affect the burning qualities or physical properties of the paper. Such additions must be non-poisonous and they must not adversely affect the taste, color, texture, or keeping, quality of the paper.

In addition, the substances employed must usually be of such nature that they may be'incorporated with cigarette papers now in use, without requiring changes in composition of paper stock or processes which require substantial changes in the customary inethods of manufacture. Moreover, the treatment must not add prohibitive costs to production.

Other features and advantages after appear.

In accordance with the present invention, cigarette paper is treated with a solution of substances capable of yielding. an alkaline smoke when such paper is burned as in the ordinary combustion of a cigarette. The substances are preferably dissolved in water and the cigarette paper impregnated with the solution in the final stage of manufacture of the paper or just before making it into the cigarettes.

The impregnating materials preferably include organic nitrogeneous substances of high nitrogen content which are completely combustible. It has been found that many amino acids, preferably aminoacetic acid, CH2.NH2.COOH, are suitable substances. These acids, and some other substances, are preferable to natural nitrogenous substances like gelatin or proteins, because those natural substances tend to inhibit combustion and; alter the texture of the paper. Aminoacetic Q acid is readily soluble in water, while gelatin and proteins are limited in solubility and yield viscous solutions which stifien or size the paper though it is possible to use them with nitrates. Similar good results are obtainable with urea, 40 CONzH4, which is easily soluble in water. Another satisfactory substance is hexamethylenetetramine, Cam-2N4, also readily solu e in water. Completely combustible inorganic salts of high nitrogen content, like ammonium nitrate, which 5 is readily soluble in water, may also be employed.

It has been found that, depending upon the paper stock used, one of the above substances, or a. combination thereof, may be employed to produce the effects described It has also been found that the desirable effects as regards production of an alkaline smoke, combustibility, and other advantages may be enhanced by adding an alkaline earth nitrate, preferably calcium nitrate.

It is found that calcium nitrate, and to some exwill hereinis tent barium and strontium nitrate, cause the paper to burn more evenly than other nitrates. They may be used for this purpose either alone or in combination with the organic nitrogeneous substances mentioned. They do not alter the feel or texture of the paper.

Ordinary cigarette paper impregnated with the following solutions -(A, or B, or C, etc.) and dried provides a paper which upon combustion yields an alkaline smoke.

Impregnating solutlonfshowing percent of substance dissolved in water Substance Aminoaceticacid 2 Urea 2 2 Hexamethylenetetramine.. i Ammonium nitrate 4 2 Calcium nitrate..- 2 2 2 2 Potassium nitrate 2 Urca nitrate...

The chemicals used and their proportions. may be varied considerably depending upon the result desired and upon the nature of the paper stock and its weight and texture. The smoke may be neutral if the nitrogenous substances are present in proper proportion.

It has been found that an impregnating solution containing 5% calcium nitrate or 5%potassium nitrate will produce a paper yielding mild alkaline smoke though the ash and burning qualities are undesirably afiected, while weak solutions of those chemicals do not produce a paper yielding alkaline smoke. Thus control through the inorganic ash alone cannot yield a satisfactory cigarette for all purposes.

Variations may be made in the land of nitrogenous chemicals used, whether organic or inorganic. We may use salts of amino acids or other tion because the inorganic nitrate regulates andcontrols the burning of the organic nitrogen compound. 1

Having thus described certain embodiments of the invention what is -claimed is:

l. A cigarette paper carrying a nitrogen-bearing'compound selected from the groupconsisting of water-soluble amino-acids, urea, ammonium nitrate, urea nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine, in such proportion that the burning paper yields an alkaline smoke.

2. A cigarette paper carrying a nitrogen-bearing compound selected from the group consisting of water-soluble amino-acids, urea, ammonium nitrate, urea nitrate and hexamethyleneteramine,

and also carrying a nitrate selected from the 36 group consisting of alkali metal nitratesand alkaline earth metal nitrates, in such proportion that the burning paper yields an alkaline smoke.

3. A cigarette paper carrying ammonium nitrate and a water soluble amino acid in such proportions that the burning paper yields an alkaline smoke. Y PAUL POETSCHKE. 

